Universities Ordered To Close

The Ministry of higher education has directed all universities across the country to close immediately in a bid to curb the rise of COVID-19 infections and deaths currently experienced.

Advice circulated by Permanent Secretary Ms Kayula Siame to all universities instructed that all physical learning should be suspended and that universities should switch to online learning.

“In light of the adverse development [of COVID-19] and in order to contain further spread of the disease in our higher education systems, we direct that with effect from 2nd July 2021, you close all your campuses until 31st July 2021,” the advice stated.

As a result of the government’s lack of focus on the issue at hand, vaccines have been late to arrive into the country and, subsequently, cases of COVID-19 have risen out of control. Although online learning is the next best thing to being in the classroom, it is likely that thousands of students who do not have access to relevant technical equipment, such as laptops and an internet connection, will fall behind as a result of this decision.